26. SPLIT PERSONALITY

26

SPLIT PERSONALITY

M y feet were on solid ground. The water we'd stepped out and into was frothing around us. As if we stood on a platform and the watery vortex wasn't quite ready to take us in.

All around us, I could see Jor, his body undulating through the watery tornado.

"I'm a hero!" He grinned, flashing his teeth. "My brother is going to freak out!"

I laughed, I couldn't help it. "Jor, you were always my hero!"

He rolled and flashed his belly, then dove deeper into the vortex. I looked to my right. Havoc stood next to me, but his eyes were closed, his face slack as if he were asleep.

"Havoc?" Fear caught at me. How was he out cold, and I was here, like this ?

"He's on the cusp of death."

I held on tighter to him as Hel stepped out of the frothing water. The mishappen side of her face was turned toward me. "You both didn't have to get in here, you know. One more sacrifice was all it would take."

"If you think I could have made him stay behind, you're welcome to send him out."

Hel huffed. "My nephew is a stubborn one."

A smile flicked over my mouth. "Yes. But you didn't come here to tell me something I already knew. Did you?"

She shook her head. "No. I came to offer you my father's plan."

The mark on my neck burned, flaring to life so hot that I slapped at my neck, yanking my hand from Havoc's. "What's happening?"

"A choice, a different kind of sacrifice," Hel said and shoved me into the swirling water.

My eyes closed and I saw them immediately.

My golden retriever and my wolf. They sat at my feet staring up at me. The golden's tongue lolled out as she smiled up at me. My wolf's black fur was sleek and her face calm as she took me in.

Hello, sister.

I blinked and crouched, holding my arms out to them. "Hello ladies."

The golden's joy was instant and she launched herself at me, licking and climbing in my lap, fighting to get as close to me as she could.

My wolf was more reserved. But as she stepped forward, she rested her chin on my shoulder. I swung my arms around her neck and held her tight, breathing her in. She was the side of me that I'd leaned on my whole life. The reason I was alive.

Sister. You have a choice to make.

The golden's voice was soft and gentle, almost a hum under my skin.

"What choice? That's what Hel said."

My wolf sat down again but put her paw on my leg. The choice is simple. One sacrifice taken. That was the woodland king. One sacrifice freely given. That was the Midgard Serpent. The sacrifice of a warrior's heart. The sacrifice does not have to be a death.

I stared at her. "What…what are you saying?"

The other gods think that you can sacrifice one of us. Give up your connection to a piece of you…that it will be enough. The golden sat next to my wolf, her big brown eyes sad as she spoke. I will be sad to leave you. But…it will be best. I know I was an accident.

I shook my head. "I…you mean I would go back. I would be alive? What about Havoc?"

He will be given a choice as well. He will have to give up something if he wishes to survive. But we do not know what that might be. My wolf let out a heavy sigh, her eyes flicking to the golden .

As if she were saying goodbye. "But I…I need you both," I whispered. "You both bring strength to me."

My wolf, my beautiful wolf let out a long, mournful howl that echoed in my bones, a goodbye that I did not want to have. But only one of us understood that you needed to find your heart. That you needed to find joy. My time with you is done, sister. I protected you when you needed that. I fought for you when you needed that. But now…you are safe.

The golden sat up. No. You agreed. I have only been with her a short time! I am grateful for the time I had with you both.

My wolf huffed and butted her head against the golden. I know her better than you. It is you she needs now.

I stared at my two sides, the light and the dark. I reached for my wolf and she stepped back. Let me go, sister. Let me go to protect the tree of life. To be the guardian I was born to be. It is the last sacrifice that you will be asked to make for a long, long time. And it is a worthy calling for me.

I could do nothing but bow my head and sob. Not because I didn't love the golden, but because my wolf…she had been my only friend, my only family for so many years. How was I to live without her?

I am still here. The golden tucked her head under my chin and all but crawled into my lap. I am with you.

I clung to her, my tears dropping into her thick fur, unable to find the words. Finally, I managed to whisper what I needed to say, choking the words out. "I sacrifice my wolf to the tree of life."

A howl ripped through the still air, reverberating through me, to my bones and back again, tearing free of me. As loud as it was, the howl cut off, and my wolf was gone.

I'd let her go.